Niantic man pleads guilty to role in robbery of Gambino family associate

Published June 04. 2014 8:17PM | Updated June 04. 2014 11:50PM

Providence – Gennaro Miele, a 61-year-old Niantic man, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges connected to the 2010 home invasion and robbery of a 78-year-old associate of the Gambino crime family at his home in Stamford, federal officials announced.

Miele was the third defendant to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery for participating in the robbery. Officials said the robbery stemmed from a dispute over a loansharking debt. The Hobbs Act is a federal anti-racketeering law.

Miele admitted that he participated in the conspiracy with two other individuals: Napoleon Andrade, 33, of Central Falls, R.I., and Stephen L. Conti, 43, of Swansea, Mass.

During the March 2, 2010, home invasion, the victim claims his attackers gained entrance by posing as deliverymen. They bound and blindfolded him and stole more than $200,000 worth of jewelry, more than $16,000 in cash and a double-barreled shotgun, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island.

Andrade, one of the members of the conspiracy, was the target of an unrelated, long-term federal, state and local law enforcement investigation into his suspected drug trafficking activities. He received a 10-year federal prison sentence for drug trafficking, money laundering, theft of government property and federal firearm violations. Another 63 months was added to the sentence for his role in the Connecticut home invasion.

Conti awaits sentencing. Miele faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 27.

The cases are being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.

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